The Win32 NDIS Framework
(WinDis32)

Welcome!

If you have reached the PCAUSA Rawether for Windows website it is likely that
you are a Microsoft Windows software developer looking for answers to some
apparently simple questions:

How can I send and receive RAW Ethernet packets from my Win32
application?

How can I query and set NDIS adapter driver information from my
Win32 application?

You may also have some additional requirements in mind:

I would like a solution that will work on all current Microsoft Windows
platforms.

I would like a solution that does not require Windows device driver
programming.

I would like the flexibility of using either the 'C' or the .NET
Framework development environment.

You may also be a Windows device driver developer asking:

Where can I find NDIS protocol driver samples that are well debugged and
actively supported across all current Windows platforms?

Where can I find samples that show how to install and uninstall an
applications and a companion NDIS protocol driver?

If these are your questions and your requirement, then we hope that the
PCAUSA Rawether for Windows product will satisfy your needs.

About Rawether...

Rawether for Windows is a fifth-generation framework for development of
Windows products that allow a user-mode application to "directly" access NDIS network interface card
(NIC) drivers from Win32 applications. Rawether was originally introduced in
1997 (in the Windows 9X and Windows NT 4.0 timeframe...) and has been in
continuous distribution since then.

Rawether uses NDIS protocol drivers that
act as a "relay"
between an application and the NDIS miniport driver. Using Rawether
for Windows your application can send and receive raw Ethernet packets on a
selected miniport and can make NDIS requests to query and set a miniport's
information.

The Rawether framework consists several components including a user mode API export
DLL and several supporting platform-specific NDIS protocol drivers. Together these
components function as a "bridge" between your user mode application
and the kernel mode NIC driver.

In most cases the presence of the supporting NDIS protocol drivers is
transparent to your application; they are installed once when you application is
installed and started automatically when needed.

In terms of the current Microsoft Windows Driver Kit (WDK) samples Rawether can be loosely
compared to the NDISPROT sample. Unlike the NDISPROT "sample", Rawether already
includes many of the features that you would need.

Once your application has been developed using the Rawether SDK it is
important that you develop an OEM version of the Rawether drivers. This is
important to prevent collision with other Rawether-based applications. If you
license the Rawether DDK then you have complete sources and can create your own
OEM driver packages. If you licensed only the Rawether SDK or you need
assistance in creating a Rawether OEM driver package, then PCAUSA can perform
this service at a reasonable cost.

Here are some of the key features of Rawether for Windows:

Rawether Windows Platform Support

The Rawether API allows you to write one application that can be use with
little or no change across all of these platforms:

Windows XP

Windows Server 2003

Windows Vista

Windows 7

Windows 8

Windows 8.1

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2012

Supports Windows x64 Editions (AMD 64)

This means that you can write one application that can be used with little or
no change across all of the supported platforms.

Using Rawether for Win32 Application Development

Rawether for Windows is intended to be used for Win32 application development
without the the need to modify the stock Rawether NDIS protocol drivers. A large
number of Rawether for Windows SDK users are highly successful without ever
examining the NDIS driver code.

The heart of Rawether is a uniform Win32 application program interface (API)
called the "Win32 NDIS" API or the "Rawether API" exported by the DLL. You build
your application by linking to the DLLs import library and compiling with header
files provided with the Rawether Software Development Kit (SDK). Your
applications are built under Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.

Rawether for Windows includes:

Documentation

Functional API using 'C' Exported Functions

Efficient Packet Receive API (Minimize lost packets)

Make NDIS Requests to Query and Set OIDs

Tutorial Win32 API Samples

Usually 'C' Console Applications

Advanced Win32 Samples

MFC Applications such as NDIScope

Illustrate use of many 802.11 OIDs.

In addition, the Rawether runtime components are intended to be distributed
under a royalty-free license.

Although the executables NDIS protocol driver provided with Rawether should not
be distributed as-is with your product, your Rawether license allows you to make
your own "OEM version" of the drivers by renaming the driver and its device and
symbolic link names and the driver copyright and rebuilding using the Microsoft
WDK. (Alternatively PCAUSA can make a Rawether OEM version for your company for
a reasonable cost.)

Your Rawether OEM version can be safely installed side-by with other
Rawether-based products.

Using Rawether for Special-Purpose NDIS Protocol Driver Development

Rawether for Windows is also for driver developers. If you order the Rawether
for Windows Professional package then you receive sources to the Rawether
drivers for all the supported Windows platforms.

Some Rawether customers make modification to the drivers (e.g., add GPS
timestamp, other special requirements). Other customers adopt methods
illustrated in the Rawether drivers into their own proprietary drivers.

Driver Installation

Rawether V6.0 drivers are installed using signed driver packages. A utility
is provided that automates driver installation so manual interaction with the
Network Control Panel is not required. The Rawether drivers are signed by PCAUSA
- not by WHQL. This means that a permission prompt will be displayed during the
driver installation process.

Managed Code

A basic .NET Framework API written in C# (called "Rawether
.NET" of course...) is also available. The Rawether .NET API provides a
rich and uniform programming interface across all Windows platforms that support the .NET
Framework.

No Recurring Royalties

Rawether for Windows is provided with a simple turn-key license that includes
the ability to redistribute your application and the renamed Rawether runtime components
in executable form with no recurring royalties.

Product pricing does vary based
on the length of time that technical support and product updates will be
provided. The "basic" editions include 90 days of technical support and updates,
while the "subscription" editions include one year of support and updates.

Where To Go From Here...

If this is your visit to the Rawether website, then we suggest that you take
the Rawether Product Tour. The Tour is intended to provide you with more
information about the problem of accessing NDIS NIC drivers from Win32 and the
solution that Rawether for Windows offers.

The most recent update to Rawether for Windows is
V6.1.00.02 of
December 4, 2013.
This release is targeted to the Windows 7/8/8.1 platform and use of Visual Studio
2010 for application development. This release does continue to support Windows
XP and Windows Vista. However, support for Windows 2000 has been dropped.